“How To” Career Articles to Help

You Beat the Recession

How to Recession Proof Your Future

If you have lost your job as a result of the recession, it is very important that you find employment as quickly as possible. But just how can you do this at a time when there is fierce competition for the small number of jobs available?

It may be that you are desperate to find a job and have to take a temporary post just to keep the money coming in to ensure the bills are paid. If this is the case, keep in mind that it is temporary work and that you are taking steps to create a better future.

Once you have sorted out your immediate situation with a temp job, you should reassess your skills, experience and qualifications and compare them with the current job market.

If your previous job was in an industry hard hit by the recession, is it possible to transfer your skills into another industry which is thriving? You might be surprised at just how many transferable skills you have – communication skills, teamwork skills and computer skills are all good examples.

Some industries are not affected by a recession, for example, healthcare and education and you don’t necessarily have to be qualified in careers such as medicine, nursing or teaching to work in these areas. Look at the skills you’ve got and see how they would fit into an industry which is thriving.

Listen to local radio, watch TV and read local newspapers and online reports to find out which career areas are booming in your local area.

Then have a look at the classifieds and see what they are looking for. It may be that you can easily get a new job, or you might find you have to improve some of your existing skills. Or alternatively, add a couple of new skills to your toolbox.

Often it doesn’t take much to reach a standard at which you will be in high demand in the job market. When you know how to, career advancement isn’t as difficult as it might have seemed at first.

So, to sum up,  you should target your job search at industries which are hiring. You will also need to create a good resume and cover letter, which include these skills and are targeted towards the job you are applying for. And you will need to know how to shne in a job interview.  You’ll find tips on job interview technique and resume writing in other articles on this site.